Last Friday, Tom Coughlin said he wanted "renewed vigor" from his team after admitting that two of the Giants' three practices leading up to the season opener "weren't good enough." A 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys was the result and the defeat has served as a wake-up call.

"I think practice is double of what it was last week," defensive captain Justin Tuck said. "And I think a lot of that comes from our leadership, comes from our coaching staff. Guys seem to be a little bit more excited about playing football. I think last week we were a little bit sluggish."

That leads to another question: How does a team beginning it's Super Bowl title defense against a division rival the NFL's season opener, not prepare with the necessary intensity?

"You're asking the million-dollar question," Tuck said. "I don't know…It's a fair question. I would if I could give you a correct answer. Some things are unexplainable."

Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka didn't blame the loss entirely on the energy at practice last week.

"We knew we had to pick it up, but that's not the only reason," Kiwanuka said. "Now that the season's started, we're getting things underway. The guys who are new to this system are understanding it more. And then at the top of that, the loss that we had."

Given 10 days between games, Tuck said the tempo at practice has increased and a sense of urgency is apparent.

"I think there's a sense of urgency this week," Tuck said. "There should've been more last week, but it was definitely a lot this week. And if we go 5-1, in the seventh game there should be a lot, too. I'm not really worried about our sense of urgency this year. I think the way we've practiced has proven to me where that is on this football team. And I think it's pretty good."